A Brief History of Reconstruction is a book about Reconstruction and what follows after it, the domino effect or aftermath in a formal style. It begins with the day the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, teasing the reader with what was about to happen during that time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The fact that the slaves are on the brink of freedom and their willingness to fight for their freedom gives the book an interesting approach to the story. The author uses metaphors and analogies to hook the reader by describing one perspective and moving to another. Furthermore, the author cites outside information to support his claims. Throughout the book the author mentions the possibility of Reconstruction's failure. Welcoming eleven defeated Southern states into the Union would have been a very challenging process, given the cultural, political, and social differences between the Confederates or Southerners and the Union or Northerners. Eric Foner connects the past to the present throughout his book allowing the reader to grasp its relevance. But the initial enthusiasm for Reconstruction faded. The author also manages to capture the political and economic conditions of Reconstruction in great detail. Eric Foner does not give simple but detailed explanations. While the key role played by white political leaders and some black radical thinkers is often mentioned, the collective political strength of ordinary black slaves is not usually discussed. Eric Foner extensively highlights in the documents the small but important contributions made by thousands of blacks during the Civil War. It takes up how blacks actively participated in politics and warfare. Eric manages to illustrate how the drive for emancipation was at the most basic level. In conclusion, A Short History of Reconstruction is a really good book about one of the most important periods of Reconstruction, written in accurate, concrete words and with good use of words. The book inserts an element of originality into historical events. The book has “a remarkable clarity which is one of the beauties of this book which focuses on so many conflicts and ambiguities. . . "said Neil Irvin of the Boston Globe. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history or is currently studying U.S. history.